Systems and Methods for Eliciting Cutaneous Sensations Using Electromagnetic Radiation

1. A system configured to induce a cutaneous sensation in a user, comprising: a stimulation system configured to generate a stimulation beam operable to induce a cutaneous sensation; a position tracking system configured to track a position of at least one target stimulation area; a controller configured to generate a control signal to selectively activate the stimulation system and to receive the position of the at least one target stimulation area from the position tracking system; and a beam steering system configured to receive input from the controller and configured to direct the stimulation beam toward the at least one target stimulation area based on the input from the controller, the beam steering system comprising: a first steering element configured to translate the stimulation beam in a first direction; a second steering element configured to translate the stimulation beam in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction; and a focusing system configured to adjust a focal distance of the stimulation beam based upon the position of the at least one target stimulation area.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first steering element and the second steering element are rotatable using a first galvanometer and a second galvanometer, respectively, and the first galvanometer and the second galvanometer are controlled by the control system.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the beam steering system at least partially surround the target stimulation area.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the beam steering system comprises a ring and a plurality of reflective elements are disposed around the perimeter of the ring.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the beam steering system comprises: a rotatable mirror configured to rotate to position based on the position of the at least one target stimulation area, the rotatable mirror configured to direct the stimulation beam within a plane; an annular reflector disposed around the rotatable mirror in the plane and configured to reflect the stimulation beam out of the plane and toward the target stimulation area.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the annular reflector comprises a plurality of reflectors disposed at a plurality of angles with respect to the plane.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stimulation system further comprises: a light source configured to generate the stimulation beam; a first lens configured to collimate the stimulation beam; a second lens configured to at least partially compensate for reduce the effects of chromatic aberration and separate from the first lens by a distance; and a focusing system configured to focus the stimulation beam based on position of the at least one target stimulation area by adjusting the distance between the first lens and the second lens.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stimulation system is comprised within a companion device configured for use in connection with a main viewing device.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the companion device comprises one of a computing device, a mobile telephone, a tablet, a projector, and a game console.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system configured to induce a cutaneous sensation in the user is embodied in one of a television, a computing device, a mobile telephone, a tablet, a projector, and a game console.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the position tracking system further comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of a CCD detector, a CMOS detector, and LIDAR.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the position tracking system further comprises a sensor configured to detect at least one of a speed, an acceleration, and a surface tissue contour of the target stimulation area.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the output of the stimulation system comprises one of infrared electromagnetic radiation and visible electromagnetic radiation.

14. A system configured to induce a cutaneous sensation in a user, comprising: a stimulation system configured to generate a stimulation beam operable to induce a cutaneous sensation; a position tracking system configured to track a position of at least one target stimulation area; a controller configured to generate a control signal to selectively activate the stimulation system and to receive the position of the at least one target stimulation area from the position tracking system; a beam steering system configured to receive input from the controller and configured to direct the stimulation beam toward the at least one target stimulation area based on the input from the controller; and a focusing system configured to vary a spot size of the stimulation beam at the target stimulation area based on the position of the target stimulation area.

15. A system configured to induce a cutaneous sensation in a user, comprising: a stimulation system configured to generate a stimulation beam operable to induce a cutaneous sensation; a position tracking system configured to track a position of at least one target stimulation area; a controller configured to generate a control signal to selectively activate the stimulation system and to receive the position of the at least one target stimulation area from the position tracking system; and a beam steering system configured to receive input from the controller and configured to direct the stimulation beam toward the at least one target stimulation area based on the input from the controller; wherein the controller is further configured to deliver a plurality of punctate stimuli to a plurality of points in a moving pattern, the moving pattern comprising a first frame and a second frame, the second frame comprising an addition at least one point in the pattern that is absent from the first frame.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the moving pattern further comprises a plurality of common stimulation points in the first frame and the second frame.

17. A system configured to induce a cutaneous sensation in a user, comprising: a stimulation system configured to generate a stimulation beam operable to induce a cutaneous sensation; a position tracking system configured to track a position of at least one target stimulation area; a controller configured to generate a control signal to selectively activate the stimulation system and to receive the position of the at least one target stimulation area from the position tracking system; a beam steering system configured to receive input from the controller and configured to direct the stimulation beam toward the at least one target stimulation area based on the input from the controller; a thermal feedback system configured to measure a temperature associated with the at least one target stimulation area; and wherein the controller is configured to dynamically control the stimulation system to maintain the temperature below a threshold temperature.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the thermal feedback system comprises a sensor configured to monitor at least one parameter associated with the target stimulation area.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the sensor comprises one of a thermographic imager, a pyrometer, and a thermopile.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the thermal feedback system further comprises an infrared thermocouple and the thermal feedback system measures the temperature associated with the at least one target stimulation area with the infrared thermocouple.